Jet pump booster



c. 1.. CARTER 3,457,863

JET PUMP BOOSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 29, 1969 Filed Feb. 7, 1968 Cyril L Carter INVENTQR.

' y 9,- 1969 c. CARTER 3,457,863

JET PUMP BOOSTER Filed Feb. 7. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,457,863 JET PUMP BOOSTER Cyril L. Carter, RED. 1, Box 72A1, Scottsbluff, Nebr. 69361 Filed Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,578 Int. Cl. F04b 23/04; F04f /24 US. Cl. 103-5 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jet suction device for boosting the flow of sand and gravel in water induced by a dredge pump. Converging jets of water within the suction device are directed into the main flow stream conducted through a diffuser. The water jets are discharged from nozzles mounted in radially spaced relation to the main flow stream on the end of a pressure chamber to which water under pressure is sup plied from a high pressure pump. Special nozzle orifices prevent reverse flow of water from the jets into the vacuum zone at the upstream end of the diffuser.

This invention relates to jet suction types of pump bOOSL- ers adapted to be connected into the discharge or suction conduits associated with a dredge pump for the purpose of enhancing the flow of sand and gravel in a fluid medium such as water.

The basic principles underlying operation of jet-types of pump boosters is well known. However, the use of this type of pump booster in connection with dredge pumps presents a serious problem in view of the abrasive character of the sand and gravel carried in the fluid medium or water. Inasmuch as the pump boosters are placed in the suction or discharge conduits conducting the main flow stream of abrasive material, the parts of the pump boosters are subject to rapid wear and therefore require frequent replacement. An important object of the present invention therefore, is to minimize wear of the critical parts of the pump booster as well as to facilitate replacement of parts.

In accordance with the present invention, the jet booster includes a diffuser flow section connected between longitudinally spaced sections of the conduit through which the main flow stream of sand and gravel in water is conducted. A water pressure jacket surrounds the conduit adjacent the large diameter, upstream end of the diffuser and is connected to the discharge of a high pressure water pump. A plurality of equally spaced, nozzle devices are mounted on the wall separating the pressure chamber from the diffuser flow section in order to direct converging jets of water into the main flow stream spaced downstream from the large diameter end of the diffuser. The nozzle devices project into the diffuser and are removably mounted on the wall in radially spaced relation to the main flow stream so as to avoid disturbance to the main flow stream as well as the abrasive action of the materials in the flow stream on the orifice tip portions of the nozzles. In view of the radial spacing of the nozzle devices from the main flow strcam, the orifice tip portions of the nozzles are provided with inwardly opening slots discharging a portion of the water across the annular gap into the flow stream thereby cooperating to establish an aqueous seal zone preventing reverse flow of water from the jets in view of the reduced pressure or vacuum zone produced at the upstream end of the diffuser.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side sectional view showing in 3,457,863 Patented July 29, 1969 side elevation, a typical dredge installation for jet booster devices constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of one of the jet booster devices.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view through the jet booster device.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the nozzles within the jet booster device.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIG- URE 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates a typical dredge installation in which aggregate in the form of sand and gravel is removed from a formation 10 forming a channel for a body of water 12 on which the dredging apparatus 14 is floated. The dredging apparatus includes a primary dredge pump 16 to which a suction conduit 18 is connected extending downwardly at an incline toward the formation 10 in order to induce an upward flow of water and aggregate which is discharged into a horizontally elongated discharge conduit 20. The discharge conduit is made up of several sections floatingly supported on the body of water 12 by the pontoons 22. A delivery conduit 24 upwardly conducts the material to an aggregate processing station 26. The dredge pump 16 may be driven by any suitable power plant 28 which is also operative to drive a high pressure water pump 30 having a suction intake 32 extending into the water 12 and a pump discharge 34 supplying water under high pressure through discharge branches 36 and 38 to a plurality of jet pump boosters 40. A jet booster device may be mounted in the suction conduit 18 and one or more of such jet boosters may also be mounted in the discharge conduit 20 in accordance with the requirements of any particular dredging installation. These jet booster devices supplement the force with which the materials are conveyed through the suction and discharge conduits of the dredge pump to the processing station 26.

As shown in FIGURE 2, each of the suction boosters 40 is connected between longitudinally spaced conduit sections 42 and 44 so as to conduct therethrough the main flow stream of material being handled. The booster device includes a water pressure jacket 46 mounted about one of the conduit sections 42 to which a water inlet 48 is connected. The water inlet is connected to the discharge 34 of the high pressure water pump 30. A mounting flange 50 is connected as by welding to one axial end of the pressure jacket 46 and is bolted by a plurality of fastener assemblies 52 to the flange 54 extending from the large diameter end of a diffuser flow section 56. The large diameter end of the diffuser section is substantially larger than the diameter of the conduit while the small, downstream end of the diffuser section is substantially equal in diameter to the conduit. A connecting flange 58 is connected to the small diameter end of the diffuser section so that it may be bolted by means of the fastener assemblies 60 to the connecting flange 62 associated with the conduit section 44.

As seen in FIGURE 3, removal of the diffuser section 56 between the conduit sections 42 and 44 exposes a plurality of nozzle devices 64 which project into the diffuser section from its large diameter end. The nozzle devices include externally threaded portions 66 removably mounted by an annular wall 68 on which the mounting flange 50 is formed. The annular wall 68 is secured as by welding to the end of the conduit section 42 that extends through the water jacket 46, the water jacket being provided with an end wall 70 also welded to the conduit section in axially spaced relation to the annular Wall 68 surrounding the central opening 72 through which material is discharged from the conduit section 42 into the diffuser section 56. An annular sealing gasket 74 is placed between the flanges 50 and 54 in order to preserve the vacuum produced at the large diameter end of the diffuser section as converging jets of water 76 are discharged into the main flow stream being discharged from the conduit section 42 into the diffuser section.

The jets 76 are discharged from the orifice tip portions 78 of the nozzle devices arranged in equal circumferentially spaced relation to each other on the annular wall 68 in converging relation to each other. It will also be observed from FIGURES 3 and 4, that the nozzle devices are radially spaced outwardly of the opening 72 which defines the limits of the main flow stream of the material being conducted through the diffuser section. Accordingly, an annular gap would ordinarily be formed between the jets 76 and the main flow stream until the jets enter the main flow stream downstream of the large diameter end of the diffuser section to impart an additional push to the materials carried in the fluid medium. In accordance with the present invention however, the tip portions 78 of each of the nozzle devices includes a pair of slots 80 as more clearly seen in FIGURES and 6 which extend radially in 90 relation to each other from the circular orifice opening 82. These slots 80 open radially inwardly so that a portion of the water jets extend through the annular gap between the nozzle devices and the main flow stream. An aqueous seal zone 84 as depicted in FIGURE 3 is thereby established downstream of the nozzle devices which prevents flow of water from the nozzle devices in a direction reverse to the direction of flow of the main flow stream. Thus, the vacuum zone produced at the upstream end of the diffuser section through which the main flow stream passes, is preserved despite the radial spacing of the nozzle devices from the main flow stream as aforementioned.

In view of the arangement as hereinbefore described, the jet booster devices operate with an unexpectedly improved efficiency as compared to prior art booster devices employing similar operational principles. Because of the radial spacing of the nozzle devices from the main flow stream, there will be no physical disturbance of the main flow stream by contact of the materials in the flow stream with the surfaces of the nozzle devices. This will also avoid wear of the critical orifice tip portions of the nozzle devices which is an important problem where abrasive materials such as sand and gravel are being handled. The location and disposition of the slots 80 hereinbefore described has been empirically determined and found to produce optimum results in establishing the aforementioned aqueous seal zone 84 which is a necessary attribute of an efficiently and successfully operating jet booster device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a conduit having a plurality of interconnected sections adapted to conduct a flow of abrasive material in a fluid medium, pump means for inducing flow of said abrasive material and establishing a pressurized source of said fluid medium, and a jet suction booster device connected in said conduit in spaced relation to the pump means comprising a diffuser connected between longitudinally spaced sections of said conduit having an upstream end larger in diameter than the conduit and a downstream end substantially equal in diameter to the conduit, an annular jacket mounted on the conduit adjacent said upstream end of the diffuser enclosing a pressure chamber connected to said pressurized source of fluid medium, an annular wall connected between the pressure chamber and the diffuser through which one of the spaced conduit sections discharges the material into the diffuser at said upstream end, and a plurality of nozzles mounted on the annular Wall in radially spaced relation to the conduit discharging into the diffuser from said upstream end, each of said nozzles including a removable mounting portion received in the annular wall and a discharge tip portion having a pair of angularly spaced slots opening radially inwardly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said annular wall supports the nozzles in converging and circumferentially spaced relation to each other.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pair of slots are angularly spaced from each other.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pair of slots are angularly spaced 90 from each other.

5. In combination with a conduit section conducting a flow stream of fluent medium and a pressure chamber to which a fluid under pressure is supplied, a jet booster device comprising a diffuser connected to the conduit section, a plurality of nozzle devices projecting into the diffuser having primary orifice means for discharging converging jets of fluid from the pressure chamber axially into he flow stream of fluent material, means mounting the nozzle devices in radially spaced relation to the flow stream establishing an annular gap between said converging jets and the flow stream, and secondary orifice means in said nozzle devices for directing fluid radially through said annular gap to prevent reverse flow of fluid into the conduit section from the diffuser.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each of said nozzle devices includes a tip portion from which one of said jets of fluid emerges, said orifice means comprising a pair of angularly spaced slots formed in the tip portion opening radially inwardly from which fluid emerges transversely of said jets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 141,349 7/1873 Hibberd 103-266 1,740,807 12/1929 Clifford 103260 2,300,332 10/1942 Avigdor. 2,391,734 12/1945 Nittka 103-260 2,786,651 3/1957 Mickle 103260 X 3,319,579 5/1967 Stack 103-263 DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner W. J. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

